Combatting Anti-blackness
The Commission on Human Relations was created by County leaders because racial/ethnic profiling, discrimination, intimidation, and other hate-driven policies and actions have no place in Los Angeles County. Hate and discrimination affects all people in our shared community, with rising rates of hate being seen across almost all demographic groups. However, hate continues to have a disproportionate impact on the County’s Black population. Although they only comprise about 9% of the county’s population, African Americans were again disproportionately targeted and comprised 53% of racial hate crime victims in the most recent hate crime report. The 294 anti-Black crimes reported in 2022 were the second largest number ever recorded. [2022 Hate Crime Report]
This year the Commission’s LA vs Hate initiative officially launched the Combating Anti-Blackness Training Series, designed by South Central Los Angeles leaders to help build capacity to address institutional racism and empower communities to stand against hate. The comprehensive and interactive training focuses on combating anti-Blackness by increasing an understanding of how policy, programs and resources have historically and systematically marginalized Black, Brown, Indigenous and Immigrant community residents.
We interviewed two of the trainers leading the program, Rob McGowan and Lizette Hernandez, to better understand why the program is needed and how it will have an impact. Read their responses below.
Q: What is Anti-Blackness, and how does it affect all communities?
RM: Anti-Blackness refers to the actions and behaviors that minimize, marginalize, and/or devalue the full participation of Black folk in life. Acting in ways that are anti-Black dehumanizes Black folk. This dehumanization shows up in actions, practices, procedures, campaigns, policies, and laws that are reinforced and perpetuated even when good-meaning people are making decisions. [for more information see this article by Christina Bush]
Q: Tell us about the Combatting Anti-Blackness Training program and its goals.
LH: Through this training series, we delve into learning the history and impacts of anti-Blackness on people in “the Americas,” to the experiences of communities in Los Angeles County today. I wouldn't say it’s a program so much as it is an offering. It grew out of the research, organizing and community dialogue in South Central that sought to understand the roots of disparity across different indicators of poverty. Community leaders worked together for several years to understand why South LA as a whole was developing differently than the rest of Los Angeles. After decades of being told that it was our own fault for the constant disenfranchisement, incessant racism and prejudice against people from South Central, especially Black residents, we knew then and know now, that we are smarter than that set of false premises. Black communities and cities across the country have a long history of rising above the consistent barrage of wealth- and health-stealing policies and activities of government agencies and white supremacy. Black towns that had once flourished have at times been dismantled or gentrified.
This training came from the need to popularize the research so that it became more accessible to others outside of policy analysts, policy makers and organizers. We also sought to expand upon that work and share it with other communities outside of South LA. Our goal is building the capacity of community leaders and government employees who are open to learning; strengthening their capacity to positively impact Black lives and Black outcomes (i.e. through policies, programs, etc.)
The other, less stated, but just as important goal, is that we provide a training experience that focuses on increasing the knowledge, shifting attitudes, strengthening the skillset, and providing a collective self-care regimen. When we challenge preset racist or anti-Black notions, we have witnessed how some trainings can contribute to trauma, especially when segments of the audience walk out altogether or discontinue their training program. We are truly about healing and transcending the negative experiences associated with anti-Blackness. More than ever, we understand that anti-Blackness is embedded in U.S. policy and systems, however we are led by the hope and possibility that we can be the generation that can truly uplift ourselves from the pain and terror that anti-Blackness causes in all of our communities.
Q: What do you hope participants take away from this program?
RM: We hope that people move closer to being more aware of and understanding how anti-Blackness negatively impacts our day-to-day lives even if it's not one's intention. We trust that participants will walk away with concrete and tangible intentions to dismantle anti-Blackness in their personal lives and professional capacities.
LH: Healing once and for all the deep notions, policies, and attitudes around anti-Blackness.
Q: How can participants apply the knowledge/skills from the program at their workplace and communities to build a more hate-free environment?
RM: The training involves exercises that specifically challenge participants to be intentional and concrete as it relates to their organization's practices, policies, campaigns, human resources, and overall organizational culture.
LH: Participants are first invited to look at their own internalized or interpersonal dynamics so we can “clean the slate” so to speak. Oftentimes, it is internalized or interpersonal anti-Blackness and racism that prevents us from talking about, much less undoing anti-Blackness at the institutional or systemic levels. Once we give folks an opportunity to unpack their internalized and interpersonal anti-Blackness, we show them how to analyze institutional and systemic policies. We also invite them into creative imagination to build new habits, skills and policies that focus on dismantling anti-Blackness and build equity over time.
Those who are interested in the training and who have an intention to introspectively analyze their assumptions, beliefs, and actions are encouraged to participate. The full in-person training takes place over five to six, four-hour sessions. For those interested in learning more about the training please contact Fidel Rodriguez, Senior Consultant, Commission on Human Relations.
